Written and directed by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, the slasher film that began the Halloween franchise starred then-unknown actress Jamie Lee Curtis as high school student Laurie Strode and veteran actor Donald Pleasence as child psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis. In the movie, a young boy murders his older sister with a kitchen knife on Halloween night and is subsequently hospitalised under the care of Dr. Loomis. Fifteen years later, Michael Myers escapes with the intent to kill again, this time focusing on Laurie, who — unbeknownst to her — is also Michael's sister.
Interestingly, Michael is played by two different actors: Nick Castle when he's masked and Tony Moran when he is unmasked. Despite the low budget, minimal advertising, and Carpenter's little experience, the film launched Curtis's career and nearly a dozen instalments and remakes to follow.